Contents

History

Giants are beings shrouded in mystery. Gandalf the Grey was known for telling stories about "dragons and goblins and giants"[1] and Bilbo had heard of "horrible names of" the giants in tales,[2] but none of these tales survive and the origin and history of the giants are obscure. Presumably, all giants were not evil, as Gandalf seems to have convinced "a more or less decent giant" to block the entrance to Goblin-town at the top of the High Pass in the Misty Mountains.[3][4]

However, what is known is that stone-giants lived in the Misty Mountains during the late Third Age. Upon coming, they drove out the majority of the bears that lived there.[5] They found a sport in throwing rocks at each other, and then into the depths below them to hear them shatter trees.[6]

Etymology

Other versions of the Legendarium

Before The Hobbit

Giants originally had a larger part in the legendarium. In one early manuscript, the giants are counted among the Úvanimor, servants of Melko.[10] In another manuscript, the giants are counted among the Earthlings, and are divided between the "wood-giants" (Qenyaulbandi) and "mountainous-giants" (Qenya taulir).[11] And in other early writings, two giants are named: Nan and Gilim.[12][13]Gilim is Gnomish for "winter", and Nan was said to be like an Elm-tree.

It is quite possible that their appearance in The Hobbit is a relic from this early phase of the legendarium. John D. Rateliff has argued that they might have become "free agents"; not wicked, but simply not aware of their surroundings.[4]

Stone-giants are golem-like creatures that appear in the fourth level, hurling rocks at Bilbo as he tries to travel along a mountain path. They are completely made of stone, and their stones are dangerous.[22]